P. David Smith

Many Western history enthusiasts believe that Ouray was the greatest of all Indian chiefs. Unlike his contemporaries, he is remembered for his negotiating and peacekeeping skills rather than for any historic deed on the battlefield. Most who knew Ouray considered him to be a very extraordinary Indian--a man of keen perceptions and a talented diplomat.But probably no other Indian chief was as enigmatic. Although most of his tribe were prepared to die for him, his own brother-in-law tried to kill him. He was chief of the Ute Nation, but he was neither a full-blooded Ute nor a chief elected by his own people--he was half Apache and was appointed chief by the U.S. government. In spite of high praises given him by various luminaries of his day, many insisted that Ouray was ordinary, at best. He was a tough and tenacious negotiator for his people, but he was also a friend of the whites and realized that if the Utes did not submit they would be destroyed.This book explores Ouray's life and his people but makes no judgments. It lets the reader decide what historic status to accord this famous chief.

I Never Knew That About Ouray is a quick, interesting read for the person who just wants to know a little bit about the history of Ouray, Colorado, and Ouray County, Colorado, and especially some of the most interesting events, exciting people, and local places. Also included are how the people got around in these rugged mountains, how prospectors looked for gold and what they did when they found it, stories of some of the local ghosts and much more.

Lafayette Head, a simple Missouri boy, was one of Colorado's first Anglo residents. He fought in the Mexican-American War in 1846 and decided to stay in New Mexico Territory; but soon he moved to the future Colorado. He fought in the Taos Revolt of 1848 and in the Ute Indian War of 1855. He was involved with the Mexidan Conejos Land Grant of over two million acres, started the first church in Colorado, dug the second earliest irrigation ditch, built the second flour mill in the state and was a U.S. Marshall for three years. "Lafe" as he was known to his friends, served as a Tabeguache Indian Agent for nine years, as well as an Agent for the Jicarilla Apache. He made three trips to Washington with these Native Americans to meet with various Presidents and served as a Ute interpreter, as he spoke fluent Spanish and Ute, as well as educated English. His close friends included Kit Carson, Cerran St. Vrain, "Uncle" Dick Wooton, Albert Pfieffer, William Becknell and several early Colorado Governors. He served for several years each in the New Mexico and Colorado Territorial legislatures and the Constituional Convention of Colorado. He was elected the first Lt. Governor of the State of Colorado. He wrote several sections of the Colorado State Constitution and had one of the largest and most successful ranches, farms, and flour mills in the San Luis Valley. Cynthia Becker and P. David Smith co-authored the award winning book Chipeta, Queen of the Utes and both authored additional books on Ute history. Lafayette Head was started by Cynthis Becker to give another side of their story, but Cynthia died after writing about half of this book. P. David Smith was glad to take on the project and finish the book. Lafayette was not only the Indian for the Tabaguache Utes for nine years during perhaps the most critical time in their history; bu, although an Anglo, he was also the primary leader of the Mexican-American community in the San Luis Valley for almost forty years. Smith and Becker have therefore added new information they have discovered on the Utes since writing their previous books and added a new twist by showing the complicated relationship between the Mexican-American farmers and ranchers moving into the San Luis Valley (the Utes favorite hunting area), the severelly mistreated Ute Indians, and U.S. and Colorado government officials, who badly ignored both. So why have most Coloradoans never heard of Lafayette Head? It was because he was a very humble man who chose the Mexican-Americans of "Southern Colorado" as his people, respected them, and treated them well; and also chose to be a farmer and rancher instead of being a wealthy mine owner.

Exploring the Historic San Juan Triangle is the revised, expanded, and updated version of Mountain Mysteries, tthe number one guide to the magnificent San Juan Mountains. New chapters on Telluride, Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City, as well as details on many existing and long-abandoned small communities, have been added. Whether it's hiking, jeeping, auto touring or just armchair reading, David Smith takes the reader on a grand tour of the resplendent San Juans. Filled with rare photographs, specially drawn maps, new trips, updated road tours, and scores of new information, Exploring the San Juan Triangle is truly The Number One Jeeping Guide of the San Juan Mountains

A little over a century ago, the Red Mountain Mining District in the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado was the scene of a "silver rush" with an output of precious metals second in Colorado only to that of Leadville. In a period of less than twenty-five years, more than thirty million dollars in silver, lead, zinc, copper, and gold were taken from the rich deposits in the mines along Red Mountain Divide -- an amount roughly equivalent to a quarter billion of today's dollars. The histories of the communities that sprang into being with these mines, the railroads constructed to service them, and the men and women who lived, worked and died in them, are the threads deftly woven into the richly textured story of Mountains of Silver. It is a colorful and varied tapestry that depicts the lives of prospectors who made the first rich strikes; the land promoters, speculators, and road-and-railroad builders who capitalized on the frenzied rush to the area; and the motley collection of miners, lawyers, merchants, prostitutes, saloonkeepers, and freighters who attempted to profit from the boom.